Student Experience

Hoos’ Got Game? UVA Fraternities Battle for Charity and Glory

Fourth-year University of Virginia student Wynn Morris showed up Friday at the McIntire Amphitheatre, cleats on and competitive spirit intact. A member of Phi Kappa Psi and a rugby captain, he knew exactly how to help his fraternity: anchor the tug-of-war team.

“This seemed the perfect application of my weight,” Morris said.

And the strategy worked. With the rope wrapped around his waist, Morris and his teammates quickly pulled the flag tied to the rope across the designated line, earning Phi Kappa Psi a spot in the next round of UVA’s Hoo Games.

The Inter-Fraternity Council, which oversees UVA’s 30 social fraternities, hosted the inaugural Hoo Games. Thirteen fraternities donated $300 each for the chance to battle it out in the elimination-style tournament, featuring flag tag, tug of war and relay races. The stakes: a $5,000 prize for the winning fraternity’s chosen charity.

Portrait of a UVA student pulling a rope during the University of Virginia's first Hoo Games.

Fourth-year student Wynn Morris anchors the Phi Kappa Psi tug-of-war team. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

The Hoo Games were the brainchild of second-year student David Gosik and fourth-year student Jake Beyer. Gosik, the IFC community service chairman, saw the event as a way to support the Charlottesville community.

“We have such a great community here in Charlottesville, one of the most beautiful cities in the country. We wanted to give back to that community for giving us the opportunity to have a school like this here,” Gosik said.

Beyer served as the event’s hype man, rallying the UVA community and encouraging students to turn out – and they did.

Portrait of Inter-Fraternity Council President Ryan Phelan, left, fourth-year student Jake Beyer, center, and second-year student David Gosick.

Inter-Fraternity Council President Ryan Phelan, left, fourth-year student Jake Beyer, center, and second-year student David Gosik celebrate a successful event. The trio developed Hoo Games to bring recognition to the philanthropic efforts of UVA fraternities and support the Charlottesville area. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

“When student organizations come together and open that door for people to come and have fun, people are going to always accept that invitation,” Beyer said.

Fourth-year student Ryan Phelan, a member of Zeta Psi and the IFC president, said the event spotlighted the positive impact UVA fraternities have through community service.

“We figured it’d be a fun way to really get people involved. You know, see the good things that Greek life does for the community, because a lot of that stuff isn’t visible,” Phelan said.

The lunchtime crowd at the amphitheater cheered as all of the fraternities competed in the first event, flag tag. With each round of competition, more teams were eliminated until just two – St. Elmo Hall and Alpha Tau Omega – remained to face off in a final contest.

Donavon Tyler, a first-year student and member of St. Elmo Hall, was all in on the Hoo Games, competing as much as he could to earn his fraternity a spot in the finals.

“The first thing I thought (when I heard about Hoo Games) was I had to come out here and support my house and show them who’s good at some games,” Tyler said.

Portrait of Donavon Tyler lifting a trophy.

Donavon Tyler, a first-year student and member of St. Elmo Hall, says he wanted to participate in Hoo Games to support his fraternity and “show them who’s good at some games.” (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)

In the final showdown, teams had to toss volleyballs into three trash cans to claim victory. After several tense rounds tied at 2-2, the judges moved the cans closer. That’s when St. Elmo Hall’s Max Guryan, a first-year student, stepped up and hit the game-winning shot.

“Probably the biggest shot of my life,” Guryan said, still celebrating. “It was a $5,000 shot for our charity, Habitat for Humanity.”

Before leaving as champions, Guryan promised, “We’re going to come back and defend it next year.”

UVA Today senior photographer Matt Riley captured these images from the Games.